Microsoft Office 365 to get encryption and iOS and Android device management tools

HOUSTON: MICROSOFT ANNOUNCED PLANS on Monday to bring improved cross-platform support to Microsoft Office 365, in an attempt to make renting its productivity suite more attractive to those using iOS and Android.

Microsoft unveiled a series of Microsoft Office 365 updates designed to improve its applications' cross-platform management, development and security services during its Teched 2014 conference in Houston, Texas.

One of the biggest announcements was the integration of Microsoft's Intune cloud management solution with its Enterprise Mobility Suite later this year.

Microsoft Office GM Julia White said that the move will improve IT managers' ability to manage Microsoft Office 365 services, including Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Excel and the Outlook web app, running on non-Windows operating systems including iOS and Android.

"Some of you may remember we announced Office for iPad recently. Today we're developing that offering. [Microsoft] Office 365 and Intune allow mobile device management on our apps on multiple ecosystems. It means you can apply policies on apps being used for business purposes and control where corporate data resides on devices," she said.

"For example, say I get a file sent to me via email and I need to open it for work. Now when I click on it using an iPad it will only let me open it using applications that have been approved by IT."

Microsoft announced it will also be rolling out enhanced encryption to Microsoft Office 365 customers from the beginning of July. The upgrade will enable users to encrypt any file stored on Microsoft's Sharepoint Online and Onedrive for Business services, meaning that work data should stay secure even if the device running the application is lost, stolen or hacked.

White said as an added layer of assurance the data will be encrypted using an individual, unique key owned by the customer.

Microsoft corporate VP Brad Anderson said that the Microsoft Office 365 update was based on feedback from customers who want to see increased support for Windows services on competing operating systems.

"Every IT manager I speak to says, 'If only I had Outlook on the iPad or, if only I had Outlook on Android'. That's why we're bringing Office applications on iPad under management," he said.